Ibulliance: On the Backs of Giants

In a room of 300 allies at The Waka Waka, Katy Knox rose to announce a life-changing grant for Ibu's artisan partners. The SpringBOArd Ibu Atelier, two years in the making, will award ten Ibu artisan partners a chance to dive deep into a new level of leadership, design, production, marketing, and sales of their exquisite goods. 

As president of Bank of America Private Bank, Katy announced a $250,000 grant from Bank of America to make this program possible. She and her remarkable team know the value of investing in enterprises where real change is happening at the ground level, and for their vision and belief in our work, we are deeply grateful. 

Our grantees have been selected, our design team is beginning work with each of the groups, and the resulting capsule collections will begin to drop by early 2026. This ambitious project builds on our current Ibu model and accelerates those efforts in a focused one-year program, aiming to expand the artisans' skills, celebrate their work through targeted marketing and video, facilitate visits to the US, and introduce leaders in supportive peer-group interaction. Imagine these leaders interconnecting and finding support in one another, as well as from you!

The SpringBOArd Ibu Atelier was born from the generous gift of the Aspen Institute’s Artisan Alliance, and our consultation with its founder, Peggy Clark. With Peggy, we canvased our artisan partners about their needs and found that the most pressing necessity for all is access to a marketplace, one that ensures continuous wealth generation and long-term stability. Together, with the support of Bank of America and the Artisan Alliance network, we are developing a platform to launch artisan groups onto a larger stage. 

L: Ibu Ambassador Ali MacGraw with Peggy Clark, Susan Hull Walker, and BoA Private Bank managing director, Ashley Varnado. R: Katy Knox at The Waka Waka, announcing BoA support for SpringBOArd Ibu Atelier. 

The SpringBOArd Ibu Atelier goes beyond traditional financial assistance and training. The program empowers artisans to build sustainable and scalable businesses of their own for a competitive market both through Ibu and beyond.

I am personally delighted to be assuming the role of director of the Ibu Atelier, as my most rewarding work at Ibu comes from my close interaction with these inspiring leaders. I'm thrilled to introduce the first class of the Ibu Atelier below. I continue my commitment to the work of Ibu in this new capacity and am eager to increase awareness of these influential women who are transforming the future of their families and communities through their exceptional leadership. Look for exciting things ahead!

 

With gratitude,
Lasley Steever
Chief Marketing Officer

SpringBOArd IBU ATELIER ARTISANS , 2025 - 2026

Artisaga, India

Artisaga collaborates with over 500 artisans specializing in handloom weaving, block printing, pottery, and copper crafts. These artisans, located across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Delhi in India, produce contemporary products for the global market.  

 

 

 

Dwaraka Plus, India

Dwaraka Plus was founded 25 years ago with a focus on revitalizing the Kalamkari tradition of hand-painted textile design. To date, Dwaraka has trained over 700 artists, many of whom have gone on to become independent entrepreneurs. Dwaraka is broadening its reach to rural areas to involve a diverse group of women and currently works with 150 women.

 

 

Kip Tik, Mexico

KIP TIK is a social enterprise that fosters sustainable development within indigenous communities across five Mexican states. Their work elevates over 200 women who specialize in traditional crafts such as backstrap loom, pedal loom, hand embroidery, drawn thread work, and natural dyes.

 

 

LoomKatha, India

Arushi Khanna has revitalized the art of Himroo weaving in Aurangabad, a craft that was on the brink of extinction. With guidance from Ibu, she has dedicated her efforts to training women in this traditional technique, which was historically dominated by men.

 

 

 

Mothers In Action (MIA), Peru

MIA Peru works with 250 women artisans across various communities, prioritizing sustainability and cultural authenticity. The team is dedicated to continuous innovation, ensuring their traditional crafts surpass machine-made replicas.

 

 

 

Pokuttya Folk Art, Ukraine 

Pokuttya Folk Art, a small organization of 16 women artisans, specializes in traditional Ukrainian embroidery. They are considering integrating a modern embroidery machine into their production to foster accelerated growth and create more job opportunities for women. This initiative aims to provide a second level of income and a broader reach for their work.

 

 

Queen Amina Embroidery Cooperative, Nigeria

Queen Amina’s social enterprise supports 50 women artisans skilled in Hausa embroidery. Their team is innovating fabric dyeing techniques, enabling Ibu to collaborate with them on multiple seasons. Their founder, Hassana Yusuf was honored as a 2023 Ibu Global Champion.

 

 

SheWorks, Pakistan

Founder Samina Mahmud possesses extensive expertise in fashion design and was honored as a 2023 Ibu Global Champion. She and has cultivated a robust network of 200 highly skilled women artisans in rural Pakistan and, with a recent Ibu grant, has successfully opened a physical store in Lahore. Her participation in the Atelier will further advance her expanding operations and enhance her marketing reach.

 

Studio Maeve, India

Studio Maeve works with 55 talented women from various communities across India and is eager to engage them more consistently. Their skills include weaving, kantha, mirror work, block printing, and embroidery. Each piece tells a story of generations of skill, rhythm, and care passed down by master artisans.